New Delhi: One of the key suspects arrested in connection with the 10 November Delhi blast was allegedly preparing to flee the country, with investigation sources confirming that Dr Shaheen Saeed had recently applied for a passport. Officials said she had even undergone police verification, and a photograph taken during the process has been shared with investigative teams.

The revelations add a new dimension to the probe into the car blast near the Red Fort, which killed 13 people and injured nearly two dozen others. The explosion of a Hyundai i20 in a high-security zone sent shockwaves across the nation and prompted a multi-agency security alert.

Four doctors under scanner for terror links

Saeed is among four doctors linked to the Faridabad-based Al Falah University who are now being probed for suspected ties to the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). The group includes:

  • Dr Umar Mohammad – believed to have driven the i20 that exploded
  • Dr Muzammil Shakeel
  • Dr Adil Rather
  • Dr Shaheen Saeed

All four were reportedly part of a radicalised network that had been communicating using encrypted channels and meeting secretly on campus.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has cancelled their medical registrations following their arrest, citing national security implications.

Massive explosives haul recovered

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a coordinated crackdown, arrested the suspects shortly before the Red Fort blast occurred. During raids on properties rented by the group in and around Delhi, authorities recovered:

  • Nearly 3,000 kg of explosives and bomb-making chemicals
  • A rifle and ammunition seized from Saeed’s car
  • Additional material suggesting an advanced level of preparedness for multiple coordinated attacks

Investigators believe the suspects were planning explosions across several locations in Delhi, using their meetings in Muzammil’s room at the university to strategise.

Umar may have detonated bomb in panic, say sources

Sources indicate that Umar Mohammad might have gone ahead with the Red Fort blast out of panic after learning that his associates were being apprehended. Preliminary findings suggest he was an expert in handling explosives and was likely attempting to escape when the device detonated prematurely.

Passport application raises flight-risk concerns

Saeed’s recent passport application has strengthened suspicions that the group anticipated imminent detection and was preparing for possible escape. Officials are analysing her digital footprint, financial transactions, and communication patterns to determine whether she was acting on instructions from handlers abroad.

A widening investigation

The Red Fort blast and the Faridabad module have prompted a sweeping inquiry involving Delhi Police, NIA teams, and intelligence agencies. Investigators are now focusing on:

  • The group’s reported connections with JeM
  • Funding channels used to procure large quantities of explosives
  • Possible additional modules or sleeper cells
  • Any foreign links tied to the fugitives’ escape plans

With the blast already linked to a series of seizures and arrests, agencies believe the case may uncover a much larger network.